Leading Transformation: Shaping Today's C-Suite for Innovation

The majority of organizations understand the imperative to embrace digital or risk relevancy to their customers. Companies are increasingly investing in innovation labs and recognize the need for the right leaders to drive digital transformation. As a result, companies have placed more emphasis on building a strong employer brand, seeking to be a top destination for high achieving, diverse talent.

However, despite the investments in digital technologies, many organizations struggle with enterprise-wide digital transformation. Often, legacy approaches are the number one barrier to achieving digital transformation. The conversion from idea to solution, the implementation of ideas and activation of the right leaders who understand and foster the transformation is difficult. As a result, many companies continue to follow old success models, even if they increasingly do not work. 

In our report, Leading Transformation: Shaping the C-Suite for Business 4.0 Innovation, we offer insight as to why organizations are successfully transforming and why others are not. Gain a better understanding of why organizations struggle with digital transformation and how their talent strategies must continue to evolve to drive their transformation journeys. With insights from more than 600 global trusted advisors – across industry, functional roles and geography – the report highlights how companies can innovate in today’s Business 4.0 environment and what is required of leaders who can drive innovation. 

The Necessary Transformation of C-Suite Roles   

Organizations are not actualizing their digital transformation because they haven't clearly defined what it means for their business. There is a lack of understanding, a lack of training, and often a perception that it is the responsibility of one department. To build a successful culture of innovation, it starts at the top and all C-Suite functions are impacted. The report outlines specific suggestions for how each C-Suite role can excel in today's business 4.0 environment. 

Silos Operate as Barriers to Enterprise-Wide Transformation

Our survey clearly demonstrates the continuation of departmental silos, and as a result, shows how many organizations have not actualized their digital transformation across the enterprise. AESC Members ranked technology and marketing teams the most advanced on their digital transformation journeys, while they ranked HR and legal the least advanced. Finance departments ranked in the middle. Given this data, it can be assumed that sometimes pushing certain functional departments into the digital transformation may actually help the organization’s overall digital transformation. 

Leading Transformation: Shaping the C-Suite for Business 4.0 Innovation takes an in-depth look at the qualities of high-performing organizations that are thriving today thus ensuring that they will meet the demands of tomorrow's customers. Regardless of sector or function, digital is here to stay and it has never been more important to have the right leaders leading in the right way.